A/N: This was really hard to write because I realised that I needed to actually find an end to this story and work on getting towards that ending. The previous chapter was like an extension of everything but now I've realised I kinda screwed myself over. I don't like James xD Anyway, you can totally imagine that when James and Jess talked, she totally told him that her name was Jess, not Rachel. Because they're on the same side now. But it was too hard to slip that in with all that goes on.
Anyway, I hope for longer chapters later on, now that I've established exactly where I'm going with this, and I hope you bear with me for the next couple of chapters while I get my head around the characters... (I went and rewatched Sweeney Todd yesterday) and get them on track. So forgive me if there's some character development jumping...
He couldn't sleep, and it was James' fault.
The boy slept soundly, gentle snores escaping with every breath. Jess and Mrs. Lovett slept close together, curled against each other. The moonlight shone onto their clearing, the stream creating a soft ambiance to keep them feeling safe.
But Sweeney Todd couldn't sleep.
He had returned to their house, collecting the most important supplies and leaving the rest. They had money, blankets and food. It would get them through the first week or so, but Sweeney didn't really know what they'd do after that.
He should've been thinking. He was always thinking. Where would they go next? What would they do?
But the only thing he could think about was James. How long was it going to be until he betrayed them? Turned them into the police – they would both be hung before the judge could sneeze.
His eyes narrowed in the darkness.
He would have to kill the boy.
It was the only way to ensure their safety…
But Mrs. Lovett would never forgive him. Nor would Jess.
He closed his eyes, heaving a sigh. Since when did he spare their feelings? He knew, of course, but-
"I can hear you thinking from here…" Jess sat up, an amused little smile on her face. She crawled to the stream, taking a drink as she inspected her wounds in the moonlight. "You should get to sleep."
He watched her, dark eyes following her small frame.
"Thinking about our lives won't do you any good," she told him. "Stress makes you age faster."
He didn't say anything. His eyes narrowed slightly, but he was quiet.
"Do you ever wonder if it's worth it?" she rattled on, not looking at him. "I mean… what's in it for us now? What was ever in it for you? Did you really think you'd just settle down somewhere nice, and never be bothered again?"
She let it sit, her words lingering in the air for a moment. She was about to open her mouth to speak when Sweeney beat her to it.
"She did," he murmured softly, eyes flicking to where Mrs. Lovett lay. "'By the sea', she'd say."
Jess stared at him, taken aback. She cleared her throat. "Would you have?" she asked. "After you killed that Judge… would you have packed up and nicked off? Like happy families,"
He contemplated for a moment, seriously weighing up the realities of their situation.
"She couldn't do it," he finally murmured. "A cottage by the sea was a fantasy that only lingered in the back of her mind. A woman of her standing… she can own the worst pie shop in London and yet she would still manage to get discounts at the market, just with her attitude," he murmured. "Polite and friendly… she couldn't hide herself away. Not with me."
Jess perked up, hardly believing her ears. "Not with you?" she pried.
He didn't answer, and Jess bit her lip. "Sometimes…" she started out delicately, almost afraid to say it. "I think the only thing that keeps her going is you, Mr. Todd."
He grunted in response and she sighed, crawling back to her original position. "Goodnight, Mr. Todd. Sleep well."
^.^
It was still dark when Sweeney woke, but the fresher air and the sweet trilling of the birds let him know that it was definitely dawn. The thick forest hid the morning light, and he let out a quiet breath.
It was time to start making decisions.
He got up, collecting their meagre supplies as he waited for everyone to get up.
"Morning…" James was lying on his back, eyes on Sweeney as he made his way around their camp. "Leaving soon, are we?"
"Why do you want to come?" Sweeney asked, eyes narrowed as he glared at the boy.
"Someone has to look after Jess. It's certainly not going to be you."
If looks could kill, James would have been dead from the moment Sweeney Todd met him. He was so close to taking out his razor and getting rid of him. It would be so easy.
He turned away from the boy, agitated, as Mrs. Lovett sat up sleepily.
"Morning love," she said softly, and the smile on her face reminded Sweeney of what Jess had said.
"So… what's the plan?"
"We continue to the next town…" he said quietly. "Two months. That's all we'll spend…" he said quietly. "No pies… no shaves. Not for a while, anyway."
"And what happens after two months?" Jess asked, yawning as she sat up.
"We relocate. Two months is enough time…and if anyone gets suspicious, we move."
Mrs. Lovett's eyes seemed to darken. For someone who spent most of her life in the same Pie Emporium… it was a lot to take in. No possessions. No cottage by the sea.
She let out a soft sigh and forced a smile, "Sounds like fun."
Sweeney hadn't meant to upset her… but what choice did they have? In a few years, maybe they could stop running… but for now it was too dangerous. They had killed…so many men. The law had to at least be onto them.
They had to go far away and start a new life. They had identification – they could go anywhere.
It would be fine.
^.^
They'd left almost immediately, and four hours later they were still walking. They trudged along wearily – their things on James' horse. Jess was riding, her strength not nearly what it was before she was kidnapped.
"Mr. T…" Mrs. Lovett said quietly, dropping back to walk beside him. "Do you really think we'll be moving around so much?"
"It's to keep us safe,"
"Us?" Mrs. Lovett whispered, sighing quietly. "There's never going to be an 'us' is there, Mr. T?"
His gaze switched from the dirt path to her for a quick moment, eyebrows furrowed.
"It's been almost three months since my Lucy," he breathed, barely audible. "And all you can think about is your damn self."
She almost stopped walking, swallowing hard. Guilt laced the next few steps, until her confidence came back. "You know damn well that it's been sixteen years since your Lucy died," she snapped. "Sixteen years to forgive yourself, to move on… to… to remember the girl from downstairs who adored you, Mr. Todd. More than your Lucy ever did…"
Rage bubbled up from his fingertips, his fists clenched. "Don't."
"Don't what, Mr. T? Don't throw myself at you? You think I'm pathetic, don't you? You can see it in my eyes. You can see how much I love you and you're so scared, Mr Todd, of loving again? Of being with me? Why? Why can't you just forget your stupid Lucy? Who says she wouldn't have moved on and remarried-"
She was cut off by a razor against her throat, and suddenly she was being slammed up against a tree.
His eyes were dark, face coloured red with rage and she could feel the sharp edge digging into her soft flesh. Her heart raced and he could feel it, his other hand wrapped around the back of her neck.
Eyes wide, she stared at him, tears overflowing from her eyes. "Do it…" she whispered, almost arching her neck into the razor. "What's a life without love, Mr. T? None that I'd want…"
"Mr. Todd…" Jess' soft voice whispered.
Sweeney's eyes searched Mrs. Lovett's face, eyes narrowed. He would get so close to giving in sometimes, and then she'd blow it.
Slowly, he let the pressure ease from her throat and she dared to breathe. He just frowned, that sad, lost look on his face, before stepping away from her.
James looked seconds from launching himself at Sweeney, eyes narrowed, and Jess' hand on his shoulder was the only thing stopping him from doing it.
He didn't dare look back at Mrs. Lovett.
He couldn't deal with the pressure… he had to get out…
Without a word, he stepped away from the scene and into the woods.